Governance
The Catholic Foundation is governed by a volunteer board of directors, citizens of integrity with diverse interests and abilities who share a common commitment to community service. The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Dallas is a voting member. The Board sets policy and establishes the direction of The Catholic Foundation, and through its committees, oversees the Foundation’s professional management.
The Catholic Foundation Board of Trustees
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Len C. Ruby |
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Robert Baillargeon |
Thomas W. Horton |
The Catholic Foundation Advisory Council
The work of The Catholic Foundation is further enhanced by a volunteer Advisory Council, a group of individuals recognized for their contributions to the Catholic community and members of the professional community of attorneys, accountants and other financial experts. In addition, most past chairmen of the Board of Trustees of The Catholic Foundation serve as members of the Advisory Council. Nominated by the Board of Trustees, Advisory Council members serve to increase the visibility and reputation of The Catholic Foundation in the community and add to the expertise available to the Foundation.
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Lydia Haggar Novakov |
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Carol Atwell Ackels |
Thomas J. Moore |
The Catholic Foundation Staff
The Foundation is staffed by dedicated professionals whose goal is to make your charitable giving easy, effective, and meaningful.
Edwin M. Schaffler
President and Chief Executive Officer
Experience: Prior to coming to The Catholic Foundation, Mr. Schaffler’s experience included seven years in the Public Accounting field with Ernst & Young on the audit staff, but with extensive involvement in corporate and personal taxation. Further experience includes over 20 years as a corporate controller, chief financial officer and general manager of companies engaged in manufacturing and distribution.
Community Activities:Mr. Schaffler has been a volunteer over the years with parish and Diocesan activities. He served on the Finance Council of St. Monica Parish from 1987-1999 and as its President from 1995-1999. He also served as President of The Home and School Association, President, Treasurer and Board Member of the Notre Dame Alumni Club of Dallas. Member of the Diocese of Dallas School Board from 1992-1998 and served as its President for two years. Is a past member of the Dallas chapter of Legatus, a national organization comprised of Catholic CEO’s; a member of the Board of Directors of the Dallas Atheltic Club (2003-07) and Treasurer (2005-06); and a member of The Knights of Malta.
Educational and Professional Certification:
University of Notre Dame – BBA Accounting 1966, MBA 1972
Certified Public Accountant 1968
Member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Texas Society of CPA's
Member of The Dallas Estate Planning Council
Cheryl Unis Mansour
Vice President of Development
Responsibilities: Overall responsibility for the development and marketing activities of The Catholic Foundation.
Experience: Prior to coming to The Catholic Foundation Cheryl served as Vice President of External Affairs of Communities Foundation of Texas, which she joined in 1993. At Communities Foundation of Texas, Cheryl was responsible for the Foundation’s relationships with clients, the media, other non-profit organizations, local, regional and national philanthropic entities, and the community at large. She negotiated the terms of philanthropic gifts and participated in the administration of the Foundation’s individual funds and the awarding of grants from CFT.
Further experience includes marketing and sales in the retail clothing business and an interior design firm which also included management of a retail subsidiary.
Community Activities: Cheryl Unis Mansour, a native of Dallas, Texas, has been involved in community and church service, both professionally and as a volunteer, for over thirty-five years. A participant in Leadership Dallas, 1999, Cheryl is a member of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, the Ursuline Academy Alumni Association, Charter 100 and The City Club. Cheryl served on the 2003 Linz Award Selection Committee, and served on the boards of The Greater Dallas Community Relations Commission, Charter 100 and the Entrepreneurs Foundation of North Texas. She currently serves on the boards of The Children’s Education Fund, Dallas Knife and Fork Club, The City Club of Dallas, and the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts Foundation Advisory Board.
Professional Organizations: She holds membership on the Dallas Estate Planning Council, the Estate Planning Council of North Texas, the Association of Fundraising Professionals and the National Committee on Planned Giving and regularly attends both regional and national seminars and workshops relating to philanthropic giving and stewardship. Cheryl is also a member of the Conference of Southwest Foundations and serves on the Membership and 60th anniversary Committees.
Education:
Ursuline Academy of Dallas, Texas
St. Mary?s Dominican College, New Orleans, Louisiana
R. Michael George, CFRE
Senior Development Officer
Responsibilities: Donor relationships and assisting with planned gifts to the Foundation.
Experience: Mr. George has held various management positions in a business career spanning 18 years. His more recent position prior to joining The Catholic Foundation was a director of the annual Catholic Community Appeal for the Diocese of Dallas from 1996 to 1999.
Professional Organizations: National Committee on Planned Giving; the Dallas Estate Planning Council; the Estate Planning Council of North Texas and a Board Member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
Community Activities: Serra Club of Dallas, Camp Summit Task Force, North Dallas Shared Ministries Task Force, Down Syndrome Guild, Knights of Columbus and active at St. Rita Catholic Community in the Parish Vocation Committee, Contemporary Choir and Chairman of the Stewardship Committee.
Education and Professional Certification:
DeSmet Jesuit High School, St. Louis, MO.
University of Missouri (St. Louis) ? BA 1980
Certified Fundraising Executive
Carol P. McDonald
Chief Financial Officer
Responsiblities: All financial activities of the organization, i.e. accounting, payroll, benefits, insurance, SEC filings and issues, and tax filings.
Experience: Director of Financial Controls for SEI Benefit Services, a division of SEI Investment Services Corporation providing record keeping services to large and mid-size corporations for their 401(k) plans and other retirement plans, for eight years. Responsible for several large corporations, from both an operational as well as marketing aspect. Mrs. McDonald began her career with Price Waterhouse and was an audit senior upon her departure from the firm after six years of service.
Community Activities: Active in her church and currently serving on the Board of Directors of her homeowners association. Carol is also on the Board of Directors of Jonathan’s Place (d.b.a. Kidnet Foundation).
Education and Professional Certification:
Bryan Adams High School, Dallas
Baylor University ? Bachelor of Arts 1982
Certified Public Accountant 1984
Additional Staff
Nancy McDonald, Controller
Virginia Dominguez, Administrative Assistant
Karen Ray, Administrative Assistant
Linda Scheets, Executive Assistant